Chapter 1: Not a Coward

High above the Ninth Heaven, in the boundless expanse of the void, countless stars shimmered, myriad living beings flourished, and infinite stories unfolded in their dazzling splendor.

At the distant edge of space and time, there was a blue-green planet: blue for its oceans, green for its vast continents.

Within this world, in an unremarkable corner, lived a sixteen-year-old boy. His sallow face betrayed poor health, his slender frame stood at barely one-seventy centimeters. His name was Gu Feng. Unable to cultivate, he was notorious as a good-for-nothing, timid, weak, and despised by all—including his only sister, Gu Yan.

"Ah! Let go of me! Brother, help me, save me!"

A gang of street ruffians had set their sights on Gu Yan, intent on dragging her away. Despair engulfed her; she would rather die than suffer their humiliation. Yet the ruffians gripped her tightly, leaving her no escape, not even through death.

Gu Yan's eyes locked desperately onto Gu Feng, yearning for her cowardly brother to come to her rescue. But as she saw him trembling, paralyzed with fear, wetting himself, all hope left her.

Gu Yan was filled with hatred. How could she have such a brother?

"Heavens, what have I done to deserve this?" Gu Yan cried out, helpless.

Her wail delighted the three ruffians, who laughed with perverse excitement as they began tearing at her already tattered clothes. Their thrill only grew, committing such acts before her brother.

"No, I must save my sister!" Gu Feng roared in his heart, trying to summon courage. But his body shook uncontrollably, his legs refused to move. He was afraid of pain, afraid of death—rooted in cowardice.

There were three assailants, each one stronger than him. The thought left him with not a trace of bravery.

Gu Yan fell into utter despair. She stopped struggling, her eyes burning with hatred for Gu Feng. Compared to the ruffians, she hated her weak brother more.

Seeing her gaze, Gu Feng trembled even more fiercely. Terror and shame filled him; nothing frightened him more than his sister's hatred.

"No, heavens, grant me strength! Let me save my sister!" Gu Feng howled in madness.

Hearing his cries, the three ruffians grew even more excited, their hands moving faster.

Gu Yan let out a cold laugh, staring at her brother as if he were a fool. Timid and weak, she blamed all her suffering on him.

One ruffian jeered, "Shout louder, boy! Maybe the heavens will hear your plea and give you strength!"

The other two burst into wild laughter.

"Heavens, grant me strength! Let me save my sister!" Gu Feng truly shouted again.

The three ruffians laughed uproariously.

Just then, a meteor streaked across the sky.

In the midst of Gu Yan's despair and the ruffians' shock, Gu Feng was struck by the falling star. In a flash, the streak of light merged into his body.

The three ruffians were alarmed—had the heavens truly answered Gu Feng's plea? They looked at him with sudden fear.

Gu Feng seemed unaware, still shouting, "Heavens, grant me strength! Let me save my sister!"

"Boy, enough shouting," a voice echoed suddenly in his mind. "If you wish to save your sister, offer your life—only then can she be saved. Are you willing?"

Gu Feng froze.

After a long moment, he stammered in terror, "Who are you?"

"Who am I? I am the heavens you prayed to. Well, do you want to save your sister or not?"

"I do!"

"Good. Then tell me, are you afraid of death?"

"I'm afraid," Gu Feng replied bluntly, nearly exasperating the voice in his mind.

"Then will you save your sister or not?"

"I want to save her! Please help me!"

Seeing his sister's desperate, hateful gaze, Gu Feng grew frantic.

"Then are you still afraid of death?"

"Of course I am! Who isn't?" Gu Feng was on the verge of tears.

"Do you want to save your sister or not?" the voice roared.

"I want to save her!" Gu Feng cried out in desperation.

"There is a way."

"What way?"

"Rush at them. I will detonate your body, killing them all. Once they're dead, your sister will be saved."

"What?!"

"What's with the exclamation? If you don't act now, your sister will hate you forever, never forgive you. Think carefully—she is your only family."

"No, I must save my sister!"

"Then go! As soon as you rush at them, I will detonate you, kill them, and save your sister."

"But then I'll die. I don't want to die."

"Are you not afraid your sister will hate you?"

"I'm afraid. I can't live without her."

"Then get moving! Her clothes are nearly torn off—wait any longer and it'll be too late!"

"Ah! I must save my sister. I’ll fight you all!"

At last, Gu Feng summoned his courage and charged at the ruffians.

Gu Yan saw her brother in that moment—the despair and hatred in her eyes flickered.

The three ruffians, seeing the frail youth rushing at them, only laughed the harder, not taking him seriously at all.

"You hurt my sister—die!" Gu Feng hurled himself at them. One ruffian lifted a foot, aiming to kick him away.

In his mind, Gu Feng would be sent flying, too frightened to get up, soiling himself in terror. But this time, things changed—Gu Feng clung to the ruffian's leg, refusing to let go no matter how hard he was shaken.

"You cowardly fool, let go!" the ruffian cursed, but Gu Feng only held on tighter.

"Courting death," the ruffian growled, landing a brutal punch on Gu Feng's back. The blow was so powerful that Gu Feng, weak as he was, spat blood instantly—but still, he held on and would not release his grip.

"I must save my sister," Gu Feng muttered through bloody lips.

In her despair, Gu Yan watched her brother, tears falling silently. Her timid, weak brother was willing to throw away his life for her.

"Brother!"

Only then did Gu Yan remember—apart from his cowardice, Gu Feng was just an ordinary boy, even weaker than most.

"Sister, your brother has come to save you. I am not a coward," Gu Feng said, beaming through bloody foam. He was overjoyed to hear her call him "brother"—for ten years, she had called him nothing but "coward."

"Brother!"

Gu Yan watched her brother's foolish smile, blood at the corners of his mouth, and her heart ached terribly. She knew that even so, he could not save her; he would only bring ruin upon himself.

But Gu Feng felt lighter and prouder than ever, as if he had accomplished something magnificent. Summoning all his courage, he roared, "You bullies! Hurt my sister, and you’ll die!"